Leading with Purpose: The Corporate Moral Compass | Global Conference 2026

Why It Matters

Embedding genuine purpose into corporate strategy strengthens resilience, attracts talent and consumers, and translates into sustainable financial performance, making it a competitive imperative for today’s CEOs.

Key Takeaways

• Purpose-driven CEOs link mission to community and employee wellbeing
• Chobani revived a town by hiring laid‑off workers, showing impact
• Patagonia’s business model depends on a healthy planet and communities
• Carhartt expands product lines while staying “work‑worthy” to protect brand purpose
• Authentic purpose outlasts trend‑driven ESG, delivering sustainable shareholder value

Summary

At Global Conference 2026, a diverse panel of CEOs—Hamdi Olkaya (Chobani), Daniel Leetsky (Kind Snacks), Linda Hubard (Carhartt), Ryan Gellert (Patagonia), and Marvin Ellison (Lowe’s)—debated why purpose matters in today’s volatile environment, framing it as a corporate moral compass.

Speakers argued that purpose is not a marketing add‑on but a driver of sustainable shareholder value. Olkaya recounted how Chobani revived a shuttered plant in upstate New York, hiring former workers and reaching $1 billion in sales without external capital. Leetsky described using market forces to bridge Israeli‑Palestinian divides, while Gellert emphasized Patagonia’s dependence on a healthy planet. Ellison linked community investment to long‑term profitability, and Hubard explained Carhartt’s “work‑worthy” product strategy.

Memorable remarks included Gellert’s “our whole business is contingent on a healthy planet,” Olkaya’s claim that abandoning a community is “an ugly end,” and Leetsky’s assertion that authentic purpose “is unstoppable because people feel it.” The panel also warned that trend‑driven ESG can evaporate, whereas purpose rooted in personal history endures.

The discussion signals a shift toward purpose as a risk‑mitigation tool and talent magnet. Companies that embed mission into DNA are likely to attract consumers, retain employees, and weather regulatory headwinds, while those treating purpose as a checkbox may fall behind.

Original Description

Watch all 2026 Global Conference session replays: https://milkeninstitute.org/events/global-conference-2026/program

Purpose-driven leadership has moved from boardroom buzzword to business imperative—but translating values into strategy, and strategy into results, remains one of the hardest jobs in the C-suite. This session brings together CEOs who have built purpose into the operational and financial core of their organizations, not just their marketing. From workforce equity and upskilling to inclusive growth and environmental stewardship, these CEOs are committed to making strategic calls that prioritize principles alongside profit. The conversation will examine how these leaders keep values at the center of their business decisions—and sustain the structures, cultures, and strategies to effectively back them up.

Diane Brady

Executive Editorial Director, Fortune

Marvin Ellison

Chairman, President, and CEO, Lowe's

Ryan Gellert

CEO, Patagonia

Linda Hubbard

President and CEO, Carhartt, Inc.

Daniel Lubetzky

Founder, Builders and KIND Snacks

Hamdi Ulukaya

Founder and CEO, Chobani